Lens manufacturers say that anything other than a microfiber cloth will damage the coatings on a lens. But microfiber cloths eventually pick up crap and they look like they're a pain to wash.
How do you keep your lenses clean? Are you using cloth/kleenex or microfiber cloths? If you use microfiber cloths, how do you clean those?
Thank you! It took me decades before I figured out that it doesn't matter how soft the cloth is if all you're doing in scrubbing abrasive dust or dirt around on the lens with it. It isn't always possible, but I try to rinse first to get as much particulate matter off before wiping.
Can you explain why cold water? I've always done it, but only because I once made the mistake of buying photoreactive lenses (and, you know, most of us just have to live with a decision like that for a while), and hot water made them go dark. I didn't think tap water temps would be enough to mechanically stress the material; is the plastic so soft that it could be damaged, or is there another reason?
Hot water can damage your anti reflective coating. It can cause it to come 'loose'.
The rinsing is indeed done to get rid of sand or dirt particles which is the main cause of scratches.
Hey now don’t diss photoreactive lenses, I got off brand transitions lenses for the first time in my life a couple years ago after a decade without trying them and I honestly like it. I can keep my prescription shades in my car since my car’s windshield blocks a lot of UV so my regular/transitionable glasses won’t darken enough but most cases I’m outside on a sunny day I can still get some sunlight dimming without having to bring my sunglasses everywhere too
I guess? I space 10 years between photoreactive lenses, and although I've only done it twice, I didn't see any improvement between in the intervening years.
I haven't tried the most modern version, but they've never darkened enough, and they don't lighten quickly enough. On top of that, the shelf life of the photoreactivity is crap, and the performance degrades quickly, forcing me to replace my lenses more frequently than I otherwise would. IME, photoreactive lenses are just a contract to buy new glasses in few years.